Because cancer hits hard enough at the best of times —

We’re here in times of crisis.

Being faced with a cancer diagnosis can bring about feelings of stress, uncertainty and fear for patients and their loved ones.

That’s why we’re here, standing by everyone impacted by cancer and the community in times of crisis, as we emerge from the impacts of the global pandemic, support each other through natural disasters and take on new, emerging crises, together.

Weathering the storms

Pitching in for our community

Sylvia was one of the people contacted by our Byron Bay team.

She’s been an avid supporter of Cancer Council NSW for over 20 years.

The team learned that Sylvia had left her house for a routine checkup with only her handbag, unaware of what was to come.

After finding some abnormalities in her appointment, Sylvia was sent to hospital to undergo emergency open heart surgery and then, the very next day, her home was flooded.

Going above and beyond

After the floods subsided, many people in affected areas still had trouble getting to cancer treatment safely due to road damage and landslides.

But Cancer Council NSW Transport to Treatment drivers like Bob Harry went above and beyond to help.

One of Bob’s clients was a 91-year-old woman from Koonorigan.

It would normally take about half an hour to drive her to treatment but, with all the road closures after the floods, the trip took over an hour.

Thanks to Bob, this client was still able to get to and from her appointments safely.

A friendly face in times of crisis

A volunteer helps with repairs after the Lismore floods

trips made by Transport to Treatment drivers in 2021/22.

driven by Transport to Treatment drivers in Lismore and Ballina since the floods.

Through the pandemic, together

After two years of virtual events, our community was eager to return to in-person fundraising events with a bang.

Nowhere was this more evident than the return of STARS, a community-driven gala event where local personalities light up the dancefloor to raise funds for people affected by cancer.

From farm to dancefloor: After his own prostate cancer diagnosis, Wayne “Macca” McDonell wanted to give back.

He plucked up the courage to sign up for STARS of Orange 2020, but COVID-19 delayed his dance floor debut until March 2022.

Wayne didn’t just dazzle on the dancefloor, he also encouraged other men to get regular PSA blood tests and raised nearly $38k!

Generation Vape: An emerging crisis

smoking causes at least

types of cancer.

smoking causes

20%

of cancer deaths in NSW.

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in our community, with smoking causing at least 16 types of cancer and 20% of cancer deaths in NSW.

Although tobacco use has declined in Australia over recent decades, the recent rise of e-cigarette use (vaping) risks undermining this progress.

Because it’s still so new, e-cigarette use among young people in Australia is still not well understood.

To address this gap, Cancer Council NSW and our partners have launched Generation Vape – a national level research project that’s the first of its kind.

All Australian governments say they’re committed to ensuring e-cigarettes are only accessed by smokers with a prescription trying to quit – yet a crisis in youth e-cigarette use is unfolding in plain view.

Anita Dessaix, Director Cancer Prevention and Advocacy

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